I had a severe tear after a forceps birth. Will the damage last?

Share

No, the damage won't last. You can expect to feel much better in a few weeks, or at the most, a couple of months.

Severe tears can be described as third-degree or fourth-degree, depending how far into your back passage the damage stretches.

You're bound to have some bruising, swelling and soreness. Because your stitches are close to your back passage, your midwife or doctor should prescribe a course of antibiotics, to reduce the risk of infection. You should keep the area clean, change your sanitary pad regularly, and shower at least once a day. Avoid hot baths, as they can make the swelling worse.

To reduce the swelling, try not to spend too long walking or standing. Rest lying down, rather than sitting. If the affected area starts to ache or feel heavy, you have been upright for too long. You may find it soothing to put sanitary towels in the fridge or freezer before applying them.

If you need a painkiller, try paracetamol first. You could move on to ibuprofen, if something stronger is required. However, if you are breastfeeding and your baby was premature, or had a low birth weight, check with your GP before taking ibuprofen, or ask your pharmacist. You should also talk to your GP before taking codeine, as this can pass into your milk, or make you constipated.

You will have been given a laxative to ease constipation, so the area has a chance to heal. You may worry about having your first poo after the birth, but this is likely to be far more comfortable than you expect. Keep hydrated and eat lots of fibre-containing fruit and vegetables, to help things along.

Because of the severity of your tear, you should be referred to a specialist women’s health physiotherapist. If this didn't happen while you were in hospital, ask your GP, midwife or health visitor to refer you to one as an outpatient. Your postnatal check is a good time to ask.

The physiotherapist will assess your pelvic floor muscles and help you to exercise them. Having a strong pelvic floor will help you to control your bladder and bowels. Doing the exercises will help with the circulation of blood to the area, which will speed up the healing process. It's normal not to feel much happening in the first few days. Giving birth will have stretched the nerves that connect to your pelvic floor muscles, making them feel numb. The feeling should gradually return over the next few days.

If you can't feel much happening after several days of trying your pelvic floor exercises, or are having trouble controlling your bladder or bowels, ask your doctor or midwife for advice.

Your pelvic floor muscles should have recovered completely by three months to six months after your baby's birth, though it sometimes takes up to a year. Keep doing your pelvic floor exercises regularly, three times a day. They will also help your scar tissue to stay flexible as it heals.

Use your postnatal appointment at about six weeks after the birth to talk about anything that may be worrying you, such as having another baby. You may be also offered a follow-up appointment at the hospital between six weeks and 12 weeks after the birth, to check that your stitches have healed properly.

Your scar, which will feel tight, sensitive and raised in the early days, should start to feel smoother after about six weeks. If your scar stays tight, a physiotherapist will be able to gently massage it, to help the skin to stretch. She can show you how to do this yourself.

After your scar has healed, and has been checked by a doctor, you could use a vibrator massager to help the scar tissue to stay flexible. Further vaginal surgery is sometimes needed if the scar remains uncomfortable, but it's not usually required.

A physiotherapist, GP or midwife can also give you advice about having sex again. Share any worries with your partner, and start with lots of foreplay. If you feel pain during sex, talk to your doctor or physiotherapist.

After the birth of your baby, the opening of your vagina will look bigger and less neat. But as long as everything is working as it should, and you have no lasting pain, this is nothing to worry about.

Last reviewed: May 2013

Share

Track your baby’s development

Join now to receive free weekly newsletters tracking your baby’s development and yours throughout your pregnancy.

Special Offers from Our Partners

Comments

My name is Camille bruno Valdez my partner and I have been trying for a baby for over two years now, We were going to a fertility clinic for about 5 months before somebody told us to contact this spell caster who is so powerful, We contacted him at this email; arewaspecialistttemple@gmail.com , for him to help us, then we told him our problem, he told us that we will either conceive in February 2014 or March 2014,but after two years of trying we were at a point where we were willing to try anything. And I'm glad we came to Dr Dahiru, Because his pregnancy spell cast put us at ease, and I honestly believe him, and his gods really helped us as well, I am thankful for all he has done. contact him via email: arewaspecialistttemple@gmail.com if you are trying to get a baby or want your lover back. he has powers to do it, he has done mine,

Special Offers from Our Partners

We want to make your experience easy and help you quickly find information that matters to you. By using our site, we assume that you consent to our use of these cookies. To learn more about our cookies, including how to opt out, please review our privacy policy.

Finding out if you're pregnant
If you're trying for a baby, each month there's that "Am I, aren't I?" moment. So, is this the month you find out that you're going to be a mum? We have all you need to know…

Childcare solutions
How do you know which type of care is best for your child? Or do you need to rely on a relative to look after your child when you return to work? Either way, there's plenty of planning to be done.

Meet other mums!
In your Birth Club, you can meet other mums and mums-to-be whose due date, or baby's birth date, is the same as yours. It's the perfect place to share advice, support and friendship with others who know what you're going through, because they are too!